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Director's Message
December 3, 2004
To: DHS Employees
From: Gary Weeks, Director
Governor's Recommended 2005-07 Budget
This week, the Governor released his recommended budget for 2005-07, which strategically addresses short-term issues facing Oregon while positioning the state to deal with future needs.
The Governor's budget centers on his six Oregon Principles and on making investments. Three of those principles focus directly on the work that we do: Health and Basic Needs, Education and Workforce Development, and Public Safety. His budget also invests in a continuum of services for each of the vulnerable populations DHS serves. The budget proposes to maintain core services in all the department's clusters.
Some additional investments are included to help increase our efficiency and accountability for public resources. These additional investments include: a more focused agency-wide effort on overpayment recovery and increasing administrative efficiencies, attorney representation in court for child welfare services, improvements to the child welfare tracking system, and more school-based health centers around the state.
Other proposed investments to DHS include: staffing for Adult Protective Services, long-term planning and community placements relating to the Oregon State Hospital, and funding to implement federal legislation for prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries.
Overall, the recommended budget for 2005-07 provides $9.567 billion total funds for DHS, representing a 3.7 percent increase from the 2003-05 Legislatively Approved Budget. The recommended budget includes $2.43 billion from the General Fund, which is 9.2 percent above the Legislatively Approved Budget for 2003-05.
Tough choices At the same time, state revenues are anticipated to be about $1 billion less than what was expected for the upcoming two-year period. Ultimately, the Governor had to make some tough investment choices throughout state government. And those choices will affect our ability to serve some clients.
For example, while the Governor's recommended budget maintains the Oregon Health Plan, some services have been further limited or eliminated. For Seniors and People with Disabilities, a continuum of core services remain but the number of people being able to access those services is proposed to be capped. And some services were not included to be carried forward in the next two-year period.
As the state's demographics continue to change and its population grows - as is projected for seniors and other groups statewide - so will the need to provide services to these citizens.
What does this mean to you? The Governor's recommended budget does recognize the efforts state employees are making every day and includes a funding package for employee compensation. What that compensation will look like will come as a result of the collective bargaining process.
The proposed budget does have approximately 280 fewer positions included in the next biennium for this department. While the final decisions on the agency's budget will be determined by the Legislature, we anticipate there will be some staff positions that will be impacted during this process. However, it is too early to know to know what the final outcome will be.
The department's budget information will continue to be updated on our Web site. Check there for the latest information. Budget questions can go directly to the department's budget input email at: dhs.budget-input@state.or.us
Investing in people
One of my key principles for the department, as you know, is investing in people. That means helping to support, mentor, and maintain a quality workforce. We will do everything we can to help those employees impacted by the 2005-07 budget.
I am constantly impressed by the dedication and hard work put in by our staff on a daily basis. You have shown you have the ability to deal with change and are able to continue to work as a team, even during periods of uncertainty.
The work we all do collectively as a department is important and helps hundreds of thousands of Oregonians throughout the state. But I don't really need to remind you of this fact. It is evident in the difference that you make in people's lives every day.
Food for thought
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
26th President of the U.S.
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This message is intended for all Department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.
If you have a disability and need a document on this Web site to be provided to you in another format, please send an email to dhs.forms@state.or.us or call (503) 945-7021, fax (503) 373-7690 or TTY (503) 947-5080. If you know of others who need this accommodation, please let them know it is available.
Oregon Department of Human Services
Director's Office
500 Summer St. NE E15, Salem, OR 97301-1097
Phone: (503) 945-5944
Fax: (503) 378-2897
TTY: (503) 947-6214
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